Track for supporting traverse drapes



A. SAMUELS 2,930,073

TRACK FOR SUPPORTING TRAVERSE DRAPES Filed Dec. 2. 1955 March 29, 1960INVENTOR 451mm Smrm ws' ATTORNEYS TRACK FOR SUPPORTING TRAVERSE DRAPE-sAbram Samuels, Allentown, Pa. I 4 Application December 2, 1955, SerialNo. 550,550

Claims. (Cl. 16-'95) This invention relates to drapery hangingequipment, and particularly to track for supporting traverse drapes.

One of the problems present in the use of traverse drapery tracks isfouling of the operating cords. This is especially true of curvedtracks, and has been primarily responsible for lack of acceptance ofthis type of track. Even in straight track cord fouling can be veryannoying.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a traversedrapery track which is so arranged that the operating cords will be leftin orderly fashion at all times.

A more specific object is the provision of track having a cord-receivingtrough to maintain the cord in proper position. Another object of theinvention is to provide such track having means to supportdouble-wheeled carriers for more balanced and smoother operation,particularly with curved track.

A further object is the provision of track which is symmetrical aboutits central vertical longitudinal plane, providing structural strengthand a track which when straight is reversible and when curved mayreceive the carriers on either side.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of one practical embodiment thereof when taken inconjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, thisspecification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of track embodying theprinciples of the present invention, with the drapery carriers in placethereon;

Figure 2 is a side view of the track shown on a larger scale; and

Figure 3 is a vertical, transverse section through the track, taken onthe line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In general, the invention concerns drapery-supporting track ofparticular crosssectional design. Although the features of the track arespecially adapted for curved track, the track is equally advantageouswhen formed as a straight track.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the track 1 is an elongated member,either curved in a horizontal plane or straight. The track is designedto have dual trackways 2 and 3 and a pair of troughs 4 and 5.

The cross-sectional shape of the track provides the various componentsmentioned above. The track in cross-section is essentially in the formof an I-beam having top and bottom flanges 6 and 7 and a central,vertical, interconnecting web 8. The track is shown as havingsubstantially the same width as height, but these relative dimensionsare not essential. n

The trackways 2 and 3 and the troughs 4 and 5 are formed by additionalvertical webs 9 and 10, each ex tending upwardly from the bottom flange7 of the I-beam midway between the central web 8 and the outer edges ofthe bottom flange. The webs 9 and 10 terminate just above halfwaybetween the flanges 6 and 7, and horizontal flanges 11 and 12 projectoutwardly from the tops 2 of the webs parallel to the flanges of theI-beain. Thus, there are formed two outwardly opening channels whichserve as the trackways 2 and 3. These are at the outer lower edges ofthe I-beam, with the troughs 4 and 5 behind them between the verticalwebs 9 and 10 and the central web 8. The spaces between the flanges 11and 12 and the top flan'ge6 of the I-beam serve as entrance throats tothe troughs.

The traclcwill receive a master carrier and'as many single carriersasmay be required to adequately support and control the drapery to behung. The master carrier will consist of two spaced, U-shaped members13' connected and held in spaced relation by a connecting bar 14 securedto the bases of the U-shaped hangers 13. The vertical legs of theU-shaped members carry rollers 15 and 16, oflset inwardly to ride in thetrackways 2 and 3.

The base of the. U-member may have turned down stiflening flanges 17 and18 at the sides if desired. Midway between the U-members, an arm 19 isattached to the connecting bar 14. Arm 19 extends upwardly at the sideof the carriage and is bent at a right angle to extend inwardly abovethe horizontal flange 12 to project into the throat leading to trough 5.A cord-attaching member 20 depends into the trough from the inwardlyextending portion of arm 19. An operating cord 21 lies within the troughand is connected to the cord-attaching member 20. It will be obviousthat movement of the cord will cause movement of the master carrier. Themaster carrier is provided with an eye 22 to which the drapery may besecured.

The single carriers consist of but one U-shaped member 23, to which areattached the wheels 24. An eye 25 is connected to the bottom of theU-member to hold the drapery.

It will be seen that the cross-sectional shape of the track provides forcompactness, maintains the cord in proper position to prevent tanglingwhether the track is straight or curved in part or throughout itslength. It will be obvious that the master carriermay be put on thetrack so that the cord-attaching arm will be in either trough4 or trough5.

While in the above one practical embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed, it will be understood that the details of the structure shownand described are merely byway of illustration and changes may be madewithin'the-scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: a

l. A track for supporting traverse draperies comprising, an elongatedmember having a pair of vertically spaced horizontal flanges, a centralvertical web interconnecting said flanges midway between the side edgesof said flanges, additional vertical webs one on each side of saidcentral web spaced from said central web and the respective side edgesof the lower of said horizontal flanges and extending upwardly from thelower of said horizontal flanges and terminating short of the upper ofsaid horizontal flanges, and horizontal flanges extending from the topsof said additional webs outwardly to the vertical planes including theside edges of said first-mentioned horizontal flanges whereby carriertrackway channels are formed at each side with carrier operating cordtroughs behind each channel with an entrance throat to each trough aboveeach channel.

2. In a track as claimed in claim 1, master-carriers and singlecarriers, each consisting of U-shaped frames with rollers. mounted onthe inner sides of the legs of the U-shaped frames and adapted to rideon the lower of said first-mentioned horizontal flanges between the sideedges thereof and said additional vertical webs, and said master-carrierhaving an arm joined to the U-shaped frame adapted to project into oneof the cord troughs between said central vertical web and saidadditional ver- Patented-'MargZQ, 1960' horizontal lower flanges,inverted L-shaped members. having their vertical legs mountedintermediate the lower flanges to provide spacing'of each vertical leg.from the web of the I-beam member and their horizontal legs directedoutwardly to form outwardly opening roller-re: ceiving channels: on.either side. of, the I-beam member, said spacing of each vertical legfrom said web of thee I-beam member forming troughs. therebetween to.receive operating cords for said carriers, and said horizontal legs ofsaid inverted L-shaped. members being spaced from. the upper fiangeof.said I-beam member toprovide' a pas.- sageway for insertion. of. saidcords into said trough.

5. A track for rollercd, carriers designed; to supporttraverse draperiescomprising,. an elongated member of .4 I b'eam cross-section withoutwardly opening roller-receiving channels. on. either side of theI-beam member and having their bases formedintegrally with the bottomflanges of the I-beam member, said channels being spaced horizontallyfrom the central vertical web of the I-beam member, whereby carrieroperating cord-receiving troughs are formed behind each channel, andsaid channels having their outwardly extending tops spaced I below thetop flanges of the I-beam member providing passageways into thecord-receiving troughs between the outwardly extending, tops. of the.channels. and the top flanges of the I-b'eam member.

- References Cited in the file of. thispatent FOREIGN PATENTS 356,266Great Britain Sept. 7, 1931 413,105 Great Britain July 12, 1934 451.865.Great Britain Aug. 7, 1936 615,296. Great Britain J an. 4, 1949 674,301.Germany Apr. 12, 1939

